Pick of the Day: 1986 Mercury Cougar LS

This coming January will mark 13 years since the Mercury brand was phased out of existence by Ford Motor Company. For 73 years, Mercury bridged the gap between Ford and Lincoln models as a medium-priced brand, and the Cougar was one of many memorable models sold in the lineup.

The Pick of the Day is a low-mileage 1986 Mercury Cougar LS listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by Loudon Ford in Minerva, Ohio. (Click the link to view the listing)

“This car is a perfect example of a car well-kept and stored properly,” the listing says. “It is in brand new condition.”

The digital odometer shows a miraculously-low 4,817 miles on the ticker. While details about the car’s ownership history are not shared, this car is an undisputed survivor.

Throughout its existence, the Cougar shared a platform – and usually a lot of design elements – with a Ford-branded counterpart vehicle. The nameplate was first launched in 1967 as a two-door hardtop sharing a chassis with the Mustang. In subsequent years, the car went on to mirror other Ford offerings such as the Torino, LTD, and Granada.

This car comes from the sixth generation of the Cougar which debuted 40 years ago in 1983. As with the previous generation, the car used the versatile rear-wheel-drive Fox-body platform. However, in a design departure, it was now offered only as a two-door coupe (the fifth-generation had expanded the lineup to include sedans and even station wagons). The side profile of this car is unmistakable, featuring a unique kick-up rear window and a nearly vertical rear window design. The exterior of today’s car is dressed up with a two-tone paint job and a red accent stripe.

The interior cabin layout is simple but adequate, featuring wood veneer, air conditioning, an analog clock, a radio, power windows, power seats, power mirrors, and a digital speedometer. The upholstery and carpeting look as well-preserved as one would expect for a vehicle with fewer than 5,000 miles on the odometer.

The dealership has provided a brief walk-around video. “It looks like it just came off the showroom floor,” the narrator says. “Won’t be another like it at car shows.”

Mercury collectors will remember that the Cougar has now been gone for over 20 years; the final unit rolled off the assembly line in Flat Rock, Michigan on August 9, 2002. And it was only nine years after that when Mercury was dissolved entirely. This car is a near-perfect example of a brand that once was!

The asking price is $15,000 for this showroom-fresh Cougar.

To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.